Safety thread control



Oct. 27, 1925. 1,559,152

R. BREYER SAFETY THREAD CONTROL' Filed Dec. 27, 1921 Patented Get. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,559,152, PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BREYER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR- TO THE PHOENIX HOSIERY CQMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SAFETY THREAD CONTROL.

Application filed December 27, 1921. Serial No. 525,032.

To aZZ whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that I, ROBERT Bnnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of IVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safety Thread Controls, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to knitting machines and more specifically to an improved control device for preventing injury to the machine by defects in the thread. While the use of my invention in connection with full fashion knitting machines is particularly advantageous, the invention is not limited to such use.

One object of the invention is to prevent defects in the thread from reaching the more delicate operating parts of the machine, without stopping the machine. In the embodiment disclosed this is accomplished by severing the thread between the defect and the knitting mechanism.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic end View of part of a knitting machine, showing the application of my invention thereto, and

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the depending arm of the cutting device.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration the thread passes from the usual spool 10 upwardly as at 12 to a moistening roll 14, under a guide 16, through a wiper 18, and eventually through a combined guide and tensioning device to the needle 22. These devices are all old and well known in the art and per se form no part of my present invention. In the devices of the prior art the threads usually pass directly from the wiper 18 to guide 20 as indicated in dotted lines at 24, although a tension ring 26 through which the threads could be passed is usually provided. According to my invention I install automatic cutting means sensitive to the tension in the thread between wiper 18 and the guide 20, and adjust the device so that any knot or lump of sufficient size to bend, break or otherwise injure the relatively delicate knitting mechanism, will offer sufficient resistance to passage through the wiper 18, to actuate the device and sever the thread between the knot or lump in question and the knitting mechanism.

As illustrated in the drawing I provide a single strip of sheet metal 28 bent to form a U-shaped clip 30 for embracing ,a suitable support 32 forming one of the beams of the frame of the machine, and terminating in a depending arm 34. Arm 34 is slotted as at 36 to receive the shank of an eyelet 38, preferably of porcelain, through which the thread is guided. An eye 40 at the end of the shank'engages a suitablefhook at the lower end of the light tension spring 42. From the wiper 18 the thread passes forwardly and upwardly as at 44, through eyelet 38, downwardly at a rather steep angle as at 46, through tension ring 26, and up again to guide 20.

In the drawings parts 44 and 46 of the thread make an angle of substantially 90 with each other, but it will be obvious that this angle can be varied over a wide range by adjusting the tension ring 26 on the standard 48. A knife 50, with its edge at an angle to slot 36 is positioned below eyelet 38. It will be obvious that an increase in tension sufficient to overcome the force of spring 42 will throw eyelet 38 and the thread passing therethrough down against knife 50 and sever the thread; .By varying the strength of spring 42, it is easy to adjust the device so that any lump or defect of sufiicient size to injure the knitting mechanism will offer sufiicient resistance to passage through the wiper 18 to sever the thread.

My invention has many advantages, among which are that it prevents damage to the knitting mechanism, without necessitating stopping the entire machine, which comprises a large number of knitting mechanisms. It saves the cost of new needles or the labor of straightening bent needles and the subsequent labor involved in adjusting the machine for further operation. Because the thread having the defect is out 011', the corresponding knitting mechanism will op- Y erate empty while the remaining mechanisms each finish a piece of work, and the silk which could otherwise be knit into a defective article is thereby saved. Production is increased because the particular knitting mechanism which fails to deliver a stocking or other piece of work, would have delivered a defective piece in any event, and the operation of the other mechanisms is not delayed.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service, without elimii'iating certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and se cured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a slotted sheet, an eyelet slidable in the slot, a knife positioned across the slot, and resilient means for holding the eyelet away from the knife.

2. In a device of the class described, a slotted sheet, an eyelet slidable in the slot, a knife positioned across the slot, and resilient means for holding the eyelet away from the knife, the sheet having an unslotted portion bent to form a clip for mounting the entire device on a suitable support.

3. A tension operated thread cutter comprising, in combination a stationary cutting element, guides tending to draw the thread against the element and sever it,.an additional guide holding the thread adjacent said element away from the same, said last mentioned guide being movable toward and away from said element, and spring; means resiliently urging said movable guide away from said element.

l. A tension operated thread cutter com prising, in combination, a cutting element and. thread guide mounted to permit relative movement between the thread and the cutting element, resilient means tending to produce separation of the cutting element and thread, and conveying means utilizing thread tension to overcome the action of said resilient means and keep the thread and said element in proximity until the thread is cut by the element.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of December, 1921.

ROBERT BREYER. 

